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Title: Multiculturalism as Reported by the European Online Press: A Qualitative Study on the Manifestation of Othering Discourses.
Creator: Chakrabarti, Shomik, Musambira, George, Sandoval, Jennifer, Hastings, Sally, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study critically examined how issues of multiculturalism and Muslim immigration are discursively constructed within the English language European online press. Through the use of a frame analysis as well as a more focused discourse analysis, an examination was undertaken to uncover how (")us(") versus (")them(") perspectives were manifest within a public discourse. A total of 132 articles from The Daily Mail, Le Monde Diplomatique, Dutchnews.nl, Spiegel Online and The International...
Show moreThis study critically examined how issues of multiculturalism and Muslim immigration are discursively constructed within the English language European online press. Through the use of a frame analysis as well as a more focused discourse analysis, an examination was undertaken to uncover how (")us(") versus (")them(") perspectives were manifest within a public discourse. A total of 132 articles from The Daily Mail, Le Monde Diplomatique, Dutchnews.nl, Spiegel Online and The International Herald Tribune were selected using a systematic sampling method based on the results of a search query for multiculturalism at each news site. The analysis of the data corpus revealed the news media's depiction of multiculturalism and Muslim immigrants as not wholly negative on the surface but under closer scrutiny revealed discursive and linguistic techniques that consistently marginalized and (")othered(") them. The themes found in the data corpus also illuminated a trend of the subordinated population as lacking proper representation and always being spoken for by the news media.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005587, ucf:50241
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005587

Title: Pinning Motherhood: The Construction of Mothering Identities on Pinterest.
Creator: Griffin, Kate, Anthony, Amanda, Carter, Shannon, Grauerholz, Liz, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research examines the new social media site, Pinterest, to uncover the processes through which mothers construct self- and public-identities. Despite being valued at over $3.8 billion dollars (Perez 2013), having an impressive user retention rate (Moore 2014), and having a highly gendered user base (Tekobbe 2013), Pinterest has been the site of limited sociological inquiry. Seventeen semi-structured qualitative interviews on mothering and Pinterest use were conducted with central Florida...
Show moreThis research examines the new social media site, Pinterest, to uncover the processes through which mothers construct self- and public-identities. Despite being valued at over $3.8 billion dollars (Perez 2013), having an impressive user retention rate (Moore 2014), and having a highly gendered user base (Tekobbe 2013), Pinterest has been the site of limited sociological inquiry. Seventeen semi-structured qualitative interviews on mothering and Pinterest use were conducted with central Florida mothers who have a Pinterest account and at least one child between 6 months and 10 years old. Through analysis based in a grounded theory approach, three central themes emerged from the data: (1) mothers negotiate motherhood ideals, perpetuated through Pinterest, through drawing on gendered ideologies; (2) mothers' use of Pinterest both supports and impairs construction of positive self-identities, complexly overlapping with concerns of technology overuse; and (3) the compartmentalized nature of Pinterest facilitates the activation of multiple identities which allow 'escapes' from the pressures of motherhood and everyday responsibilities. Insights derived from this research can also be helpful in explaining the overlaps between online and offline identities, how women manage motherhood ideals, and the compartmentalization of self-identities.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005340, ucf:50501
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005340

Title: Fire in a Distant Heaven: The Boxer Uprising as a Domestic Crisis in the United States.
Creator: Fandino, Daniel, Zhang, Hong, Lyons, Amelia, Kallina, Edmund, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis examines the Boxer Uprising which took place in China around the turn of the twentieth century as a domestic crisis in the United States and the means through which different factions within America shaped the popular perception of the event. It argues that American and Chinese interest groups successfully managed the crisis by developing a narrative that served to further their own interests. These efforts were geared towards convincing an uncertain American public of the...
Show moreThis thesis examines the Boxer Uprising which took place in China around the turn of the twentieth century as a domestic crisis in the United States and the means through which different factions within America shaped the popular perception of the event. It argues that American and Chinese interest groups successfully managed the crisis by developing a narrative that served to further their own interests. These efforts were geared towards convincing an uncertain American public of the necessity and righteousness of particular ways to respond to the crisis. The primary factor in this narrative was a malleable ideal of civilization centered on American concepts of industry, Christianity, and democracy. This thesis maintains that the print media of the day was the essential element for the distribution of this message, which allowed for an explanation to the crisis, the protection of Chinese citizens within the United States, justification for American actions abroad, and a speedy return to the status quo.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005489, ucf:50337
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005489

Title: Perovskite catalysts enhanced combustion on porous media and thermoelectric power conversion.
Creator: Robayo, Manuel, Orlovskaya, Nina, Chen, Ruey-Hung, Kapat, Jayanta, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A combustion chamber incorporating a high temperature porous matrix was design and tested. The effects and merits of combining combustion on porous media and catalytic enhancement were explored, in addition to the proof of concept of integrating these technologies with simple heat engines, such as thermoelectric generators, to generate efficient and reliable power. The direct observation of the flame during the combustion becomes possible due to a specially designed stainless steel chamber...
Show moreA combustion chamber incorporating a high temperature porous matrix was design and tested. The effects and merits of combining combustion on porous media and catalytic enhancement were explored, in addition to the proof of concept of integrating these technologies with simple heat engines, such as thermoelectric generators, to generate efficient and reliable power. The direct observation of the flame during the combustion becomes possible due to a specially designed stainless steel chamber incorporating a quartz window where the initiation and propagation of the combustion reaction/flame was directly visible. The simple design of the combustion chamber allowed for a series of thermocouples to be arranged on the central axis of the porous media. With the thermocouples as output and two flow controllers controlling the volumetric flow of fuel and air as input, it was possible to explore the behavior of the flame at different volumetric flow ranges and fuel to air ratios. Additionally the design allowed for thermoelectric modules to be placed in the walls of the combustion chamber. Using combustion as a heat source and passive fins for cooling, the device was able to generate enough power to power a small portable electronic device. The effects of La-Sr-Fe-Cr-Ru based perovskite catalysts, on matrix stabilized combustion in a porous ceramic media were also explored. Highly porous silicon carbide ceramics are used as a porous media for a catalytically enhanced superadiabatic combustion of a lean mixture of methane and air. Perovskite catalytic enhancement of SiC porous matrix with La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.35Ru0.05O3, La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.6Cr0.4O3, La0.75Sr0.25Fe0.95Ru0.05O3, La0.75Sr0.05Cr0.95Ru0.05O3, and LaFe0.95Ru0.05O3 were used to enhance combustion. The flammability limits of the combustion of methane and air were explored using both inert and catalytically enhanced surfaces of the porous ceramic media. By coating the SiC porous media with perovskite catalysts it was possible to lower the minimum stable equivalence ratio and achieve more efficient combustion.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005543, ucf:50315
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005543

Title: The Pre-Emptive Election: How the Mass Media Determine Winners and Losers in Presidential Primaries, 1988-2012.
Creator: Stewart, Josh, Pollock, Philip, Holsenbeck, Daniel, Lanier, Drew, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The function of the mass media in the democratic process is crucial to an informed public and vital to a democratic system. One primary role of the media is that of gatekeeper between political candidates and the public. The influence the media has on the electorate is heightened during the primary process of presidential elections and even more so in the pre-primary season when a large majority of potential voters have yet to form opinions of candidates. The effects of the media in the pre...
Show moreThe function of the mass media in the democratic process is crucial to an informed public and vital to a democratic system. One primary role of the media is that of gatekeeper between political candidates and the public. The influence the media has on the electorate is heightened during the primary process of presidential elections and even more so in the pre-primary season when a large majority of potential voters have yet to form opinions of candidates. The effects of the media in the pre-primary season of politics play out in significant relationships where media coverage results in measurable increases in campaign contributions to the candidates included in this research, while the tone of content has no measurable influence. Although models that tested the ability to predict success in primaries failed to reach statistically significant levels, the raw data show high correlations between media coverage and candidate success.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFE0005423, ucf:50407
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005423

Title: Social Media Responsiveness in the Public Sector: A Study of Social Media Adoption in Three Functional Departments of U.S. Cities.
Creator: Seigler, Daniel, Bryer, Thomas, Hu, Qian, Norris Tirrell, Dorothy, Fine, Terri, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Public administration research strongly supports the argument for administrator-citizen collaborations and shows that Web 2.0 social media tools have the potential to increase these collaborations. Some public managers have fully embraced the adoption of social media tools to their fullest collaborative potential while other managers have chosen to limit their full collaborative potential. This study examines four environmental influences to determine if they are the cause of the diverse...
Show morePublic administration research strongly supports the argument for administrator-citizen collaborations and shows that Web 2.0 social media tools have the potential to increase these collaborations. Some public managers have fully embraced the adoption of social media tools to their fullest collaborative potential while other managers have chosen to limit their full collaborative potential. This study examines four environmental influences to determine if they are the cause of the diverse levels of social media adoption among public administrators. A survey of 157 department managers from 261 large cities across the U.S. shows that 82% of the respondents are currently using some form of social media tools to engage citizens. The results show that perceived organizational influences and perceived administrator preconceptions of social media tools are having the greatest impact on the respondents' decision to adopt social media. Provided that response rate bias is not occurring in this study, there are two possible explanations for the results. One possible explanation is that Web 2.0 social media adoption may be following a similar path as the adoption of earlier forms of Web 1.0 e-government tools. The other possible explanation is that managers may be operating within a rational environment when deciding whether or not to adopt Web 2.0 social media tools.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005709, ucf:50115
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005709

Title: Study of Transport Phenomena in Carbon-Based Materials.
Creator: Aboelsoud, Walid, Chow, Louis, Kumar, Ranganathan, Deng, Weiwei, Kar, Aravinda, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: In air-cooled heat exchangers, air-side thermal resistance is usually the largest compared to conduction and liquid-side thermal resistances. Thus, reducing the air-side thermal resistance with fin-like structures can greatly improve overall cooling performance. The performance of these structures is usually characterized by the rate of heat which can be transferred and the pumping power required. One promising solution is to use a high-thermal-conductivity material with a large surface per...
Show moreIn air-cooled heat exchangers, air-side thermal resistance is usually the largest compared to conduction and liquid-side thermal resistances. Thus, reducing the air-side thermal resistance with fin-like structures can greatly improve overall cooling performance. The performance of these structures is usually characterized by the rate of heat which can be transferred and the pumping power required. One promising solution is to use a high-thermal-conductivity material with a large surface per unit volume such as carbon foam. This study presents a method of utilizing V-shape corrugated carbon foam. The air-side heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop across the foam have been investigated using different V-shape foam geometrical configurations obtained by varying its length and height. Based on design considerations and availability, the foam length has been chosen to be 25.4, 38.1 and 52.1 mm while its height is 4.4, 6.8 and 11.7 mm, resulting in nine different test pieces of foam with different heights and lengths.A total number of 81 experiments were carried out and results show that of the nine V-shape configurations, the foam with the shortest length and tallest height gives the best performance. Experimental results are also compared with the results of prior work using different carbon foam geometries. It is shown that V-shape corrugated carbon foam provides higher heat transfer coefficient and better overall performance.Numerical method is performed next. The effect of the foam length and height on thermal and hydraulic performance is demonstrated and discussed. There is excellent agreement between numerical and experimental results. An analysis is also made to better understand the transport phenomena that occur within the porous matrix. For laminar flow of air, one of the findings is the high heat transfer effectiveness of the foam which means a foam thickness of 1 mm or less is sufficient for heat transfer enhancement for air speed of up to 4 m/s. To demonstrate the feasibility of using carbon foam, an analytical case study of carbon foam heat exchanger was performed and compared to traditional heat exchanger with the same heat load. Results show that a volume saving of up to 55% can be obtained by using carbon foam instead of traditional aluminum fins.Another attractive carbon-based material is the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) which has an in-plane thermal conductivity of about 1700 W/m.K and an out-of-plane k of about 8 W/m.K at room temperature. HOPG is a graphite material with a high degree of preferred crystallographic orientation. HOPG can be very useful in thermal applications when axial conduction is critical and needed to be minimized as in recuperators used in cryocoolers and compact power generation. Also, an analysis of HOPG for micro-channel applications shows that the high in-plane thermal conductivity of HOPG, which is far greater than that of copper and aluminum, allows a taller height for the micro-channel. This translates to an increase in the heat flux removal rate by two to three times.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005081, ucf:50732
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005081

Title: #STORYOFMYLIFE: PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIOR ONLINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN EMERGING ADULTHOOD.
Creator: Berryman, Chloe, Negy, Charles, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The intent of this study was to explore to what extent loneliness, need for belonging, and parent-child relationships relate to time spent communicating via social media. The study also focused on predicting social media integration and vaguebooking, an attention seeking behavior on social media. Results from a sample of 471 college students indicated that need for belonging was related to more time spent communicating with friends online. Parent-child relationship, social anxiety, and...
Show moreThe intent of this study was to explore to what extent loneliness, need for belonging, and parent-child relationships relate to time spent communicating via social media. The study also focused on predicting social media integration and vaguebooking, an attention seeking behavior on social media. Results from a sample of 471 college students indicated that need for belonging was related to more time spent communicating with friends online. Parent-child relationship, social anxiety, and loneliness were not significantly correlated with social media use. Need for belonging predicted social media integration and loneliness predicted vaguebooking. Histrionic symptoms significantly predicted both social media integration and vaguebooking behaviors, indicating that for those with histrionic traits, social media may reinforce attention seeking behaviors.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: CFH0004706, ucf:45407
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004706

Title: DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF BRAZIL IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
Creator: Ribeiro, Henrique, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As Brazil develops into the first South American world power many changes in its society, economy and political system are necessary for a successful transformation. Nevertheless this is no easy task as the country battles corruption, vast inequality and a severe problem with freedom of information within the media. For decades the Brazilian mainstream media has been controlled by elite political forces together with elite families influencing and controlling many factors that are responsible...
Show moreAs Brazil develops into the first South American world power many changes in its society, economy and political system are necessary for a successful transformation. Nevertheless this is no easy task as the country battles corruption, vast inequality and a severe problem with freedom of information within the media. For decades the Brazilian mainstream media has been controlled by elite political forces together with elite families influencing and controlling many factors that are responsible for social, economic and political development. As new developments and implementations in the last fifteen years have been ongoing within Brazil, such as welfare programs, social reforms, hosting of international sporting events and the emergence and popularity of social networking technology, millions within the Brazilian Nation have been able to ascend out of poverty and into a new era of diversity of information, political participation and greater awareness of the problems within their own society. The time has finally come of when the Brazilian people have the ability to react and mobilize against the forces and factors that for decades have perpetuated several unfavorable conditions within Brazil.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004897, ucf:45411
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004897

Title: Exploring a Three-Dimensional Narrative Medium: The Theme Park as "De Sprookjessprokkelaar," The Gatherer and Teller of Stories.
Creator: Baker, Carissa, McDaniel, Rudy, Salter, Anastasia, Underberg-Goode, Natalie, Hover, Moniek, Dickson, Duncan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This dissertation examines the pervasiveness of storytelling in theme parks and establishes the theme park as a distinct narrative medium. It traces the characteristics of theme park storytelling, how it has changed over time, and what makes the medium unique. This was accomplished using a mixed methods approach drawing data from interviews with creative professionals, archival research, fieldwork, and an analysis of more than eight hundred narrative attractions.The survey of narrative...
Show moreThis dissertation examines the pervasiveness of storytelling in theme parks and establishes the theme park as a distinct narrative medium. It traces the characteristics of theme park storytelling, how it has changed over time, and what makes the medium unique. This was accomplished using a mixed methods approach drawing data from interviews with creative professionals, archival research, fieldwork, and an analysis of more than eight hundred narrative attractions.The survey of narrative attractions revealed the most common narrative expressions to be dark rides and stage shows. Source material tends to be cultural tales (legends, fairy tales) or intellectual properties (generally films). Throughout major periods and world regions, setting, scenes, and visual storytelling are the most ubiquitous narrative devices. Three dozen techniques and technologies are detailed in this project. Significant impetuses for narrative change over time are the advent of technologies, formalization of the industry, explicit discourse on storytelling, formation of design philosophies, and general convergence of media. There are at least a half dozen key distinctions in theme park narratives compared with other mediums: dimensionality, scale, communality, brevity, a combinatory aspect, and a reiterative nature. Also significant is that creative professionals view themselves as storytellers, purposefully design with narrative systems, embed them in spaces, and participate in public dialogue surrounding narrative and design principles.This study was initiated to expand the literature on emerging media and narratives within the Texts and Technology approach and to fill a gap in the scholarship, as designer standpoint is rarely considered in analysis. This is the first large-scale study of storytelling in the global theme park industry. It uses underrepresented creative voices as participants and recognizes their contributions as storytellers. Finally, the project lays the groundwork for future inquiries into theme parks as storytellers and spatial narrative mediums.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0006973, ucf:51626
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006973

Title: Repro, But Make It Fashion: Discourses on Sex, Sexuality, and Reproduction in Teen Vogue Magazine.
Creator: Londono, Estefany, Carter, Shannon, Armato, Michael, Donley, Amy, Bubriski, Anne, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: There are many possible sources for youth to become educated about sexuality and reproduction, however the media are cited as particularly powerful and prominent sources of information (Jaworski, 2009). Particularly in an era in which abstinence-only messaging dominates sex education, media become a source to which young people turn and where they receive much of their sex-based messaging. Due to backlash over problematic content that perpetuates gender stereotypes and relays harmful messages...
Show moreThere are many possible sources for youth to become educated about sexuality and reproduction, however the media are cited as particularly powerful and prominent sources of information (Jaworski, 2009). Particularly in an era in which abstinence-only messaging dominates sex education, media become a source to which young people turn and where they receive much of their sex-based messaging. Due to backlash over problematic content that perpetuates gender stereotypes and relays harmful messages about sex and sexuality, some magazines, including Teen Vogue, have attempted to shift towards more feminist-minded content (Keller, 2011, Milkie, 2002). This study is a qualitative critical feminist media analysis that examined the framing of sex, sexuality, and reproduction content in a sample of 60 Teen Vogue articles, an online publication that targets adolescents and young adults. The analysis revealed that overall, articles conveyed positive representations of sexuality, advocating for affirming and evidence-based sex education, self-empowerment through knowledge, and comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all. However, contradictory frames of sex stigmatization and a reproductive rights framework that advocates primarily for abortion rights were still highly prevalent in the data. Considering media is a significant component of the sexual socialization of youth, Sex Positive framing of sexuality which prioritizes pleasure, healthy relationships and sexual dynamics, and inclusive and affirmative sex education helps to create new narratives in media concerning how sex is viewed. These messages may have positive impacts by creating healthier sexual scripts and becoming dominant narratives in the future. However, articles in the data also utilized fear-mongering tactics that are notoriously used in abstinence-only sex education. These messages aid in further stigmatizing young people not only for having sex but also for not being informed of the potential associated risks, creating a harmful paradox that may counteract the goals of sexual health and sex positivity. Additionally, reproductive rights and reproductive justice messaging and the presentation of policy updates relevant to young readers has the potential to inform and socialize young people to be better informed about sex and sexuality, which may, in turn, lead to greater sexual empowerment. Such messaging may also empower youth activists in a time of political turmoil, connecting teen readers to what is going on around them, and providing concrete actions they can take to create political change. ?
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007832, ucf:52815
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007832

Title: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED GREEN ROOF STORMWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM IRRIGATED WITH RECYCLED STORMWATER RUNOFF TO ACHIEVE POLLUTANT REMOVAL AND STORMWATER VOLUME REDUCTION.
Creator: Hardin, Michael, Wanielista, Marty, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: One of our greatest threats to surface-water quality is polluted stormwater runoff. In this research, investigated is the use of a green roof irrigated with recycled stormwater runoff to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and reduce the volume of stormwater runoff leaving developed areas. The green roof properties of interest are the filtration and biological processes as well as the roof's ability to hold water and increase evapotranspiration, reducing the volume of stormwater...
Show moreOne of our greatest threats to surface-water quality is polluted stormwater runoff. In this research, investigated is the use of a green roof irrigated with recycled stormwater runoff to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and reduce the volume of stormwater runoff leaving developed areas. The green roof properties of interest are the filtration and biological processes as well as the roof's ability to hold water and increase evapotranspiration, reducing the volume of stormwater runoff from the source. Because of the above mentioned reasons the experiment consists of a water quality analysis and a water budget done on several experimental chambers modeled after the green roof on the student union building at the University of Central Florida. The green roof chambers are used to study different types of growing media, different irrigation rates, and the addition of plants and how stormwater runoff quality and quantity is affected. There are also control chambers built to model the conventional roof on the student union building. The purpose of the control is to determine the effectiveness of the different media's filtration/adsorption processes and ability to hold water, in addition to identifying the benefits of adding a green roof to both water quality and the water budget. This research showed that a specifically designed green roof stormwater treatment system with a cistern is an effective way to reduce both the volume of and mass of pollutants of stormwater runoff. The year long water budget showed that this system can reduce the volume of stormwater runoff by almost 90%. The green roof model developed within this work showed similar results for the same conditions. Design curves produced by the model have also been presented for several different geographic regions in Florida. The green roof stormwater treatment system presented within this work was effective at reducing the mass of pollutants. However, the concentration of several of the examined pollutants in the effluent of the cistern was higher or equivalent to that of a control roof. Nitrate and ammonia were two that had a lower concentration than the control roof. The use of a pollution control growing media was also examined. The results of this study show that the Black & GoldTM growing media is effective at removing both ortho-phosphorus and total phosphorus. Isotherm analysis was also preformed to quantify the adsorption potential. Despite the promise of the Black & GoldTM growing media to remove phosphorus the plants did not grow as well as in the expanded clay growing media. It is suggested that the pollution control media be used as a layer under the growing media in order to get the benefits of both media.
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Date Issued: 2006
Identifier: CFE0001423, ucf:47058
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001423

Title: Bending the Binary: Effects of Nonbinary Gender Media Representations on Disposition Formation and Media Enjoyment.
Creator: Higley, Diana, Kinnally, William, Sandoval, Jennifer, Hanlon, Christine, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Today, the issue of gender plays a larger role in our social discussions than in the past. Over the last decade, new and groundbreaking television shows and movies that showcase gender nonconforming characters and plots that challenge traditional gender roles have become more common. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential effects of gender-neutral representations in media programming and particularly whether different representations of gender might influence audience...
Show moreToday, the issue of gender plays a larger role in our social discussions than in the past. Over the last decade, new and groundbreaking television shows and movies that showcase gender nonconforming characters and plots that challenge traditional gender roles have become more common. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential effects of gender-neutral representations in media programming and particularly whether different representations of gender might influence audience attitudes toward characters and overall enjoyment of the media. Affective Disposition Theory and Moral Foundations Theory were used as a framework for understanding people's perceptions of gender-neutral media characters. The project involved a pretest/posttest experimental method with random assignment of participants to one of three conditions. Participants completed a pretest including measures of moral modules and trait empathy among other characteristics during week one. The next week, they were assigned to read one of three versions of a dramatic plot synopsis in which the gender of the main character was male, female or ambiguous. After reading the assigned synopsis, participants reported their disposition toward the main character in the stimulus and their enjoyment of the synopsis. Results indicated that depictions of gender that don't activate traditional male and female gender schemas can have a negative influence on the participants' initial dispositions toward the character. The gender representation in the stimulus was not related to reported enjoyment of the plot. Intrinsic moral modules appeared to influence participants' dispositions toward the main character and their enjoyment. However, different modules were important to each of the different outcomes. Implications of the findings are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007469, ucf:52676
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007469

Title: Design and modeling of a heat exchanger for porous combustor powered steam generators in automotive industry.
Creator: Dasgupta, Apratim, Orlovskaya, Nina, Gou, Jihua, Vasu Sumathi, Subith, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: A major challenge faced by automobile manufacturers is to achieve reduction of particulate emission to acceptable standards, as the emission standards become more and more stringent. One of the ecologically friendly options to reduce emissions is to develop external combustion in a steam engine as a replacement of the internal combustion engine. There are multiple factors, other than pollution that need to be considered for developing a substitute for Internal Combustion Engine, like specific...
Show moreA major challenge faced by automobile manufacturers is to achieve reduction of particulate emission to acceptable standards, as the emission standards become more and more stringent. One of the ecologically friendly options to reduce emissions is to develop external combustion in a steam engine as a replacement of the internal combustion engine. There are multiple factors, other than pollution that need to be considered for developing a substitute for Internal Combustion Engine, like specific power, throttle response, torque speed curve, fuel consumption and refueling infrastructure. External combustion in a steam engine seems to be a bright idea, for a cleaner and more environment friendly alternative to the IC engine that can satisfy the multiple technology requirements mentioned. One way of performing external heterogeneous combustion is to use porous ceramic media, which is a modern and innovative technique, used in many practical applications. The heterogeneous combustion inside ceramic porous media provides numerous advantages, as the ceramic, acts as a regenerator that distributes heat from the flue gases to the upstream reactants, resulting in the extended flammability limits of the reactants. The heat exchanger design is the major challenge in developing an external combustion engine because of the space, such systems consume in an automobile. The goal of the research is to develop a compact and efficient heat exchanger for the application. The proposed research uses natural gas as a fuel that is mixed with air for combustion and the generated flue gases are fed to a heat exchanger to generate superheated system for performing engine work to the vehicle. The performed research is focused on designing and modeling of the boiler heat exchanger section. The justification for selection of working fluid and power plant technology is presented as part of the research, where the proposed system consists of an Air and Flue Gas Path and a Water and Steam Path. Models are developed for coupled thermal and fluid analysis of a heat exchanger, consisting of three sections. The first section converts water to a saturated liquid. The second portion consists of a section where water is converted to saturated steam. The third section is the superheater, where saturated steam is converted to superheated steam. The Finite Element Model is appropriately meshed and boundary conditions set up to solve the mass, momentum and energy conservation equations. The k-epsilon model is implemented to take care of turbulence. Analytical calculations following the established codes and standards are also executed to develop the design.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006579, ucf:51308
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006579

Title: COHERENCE PROPERTIES OF OPTICAL NEAR-FIELDS.
Creator: Apostol, Adela, Dogariu, Aristide, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Next generation photonics-based technologies will ultimately rely on novel materials and devices. For this purpose, phenomena at subwavelength scales are being studied to advance both fundamental knowledge and experimental capabilities. In this dissertation, concepts specific to near-field optics and experimental capabilities specific to near-field microscopy are used to investigate various aspects of the statistical properties of random electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of optically...
Show moreNext generation photonics-based technologies will ultimately rely on novel materials and devices. For this purpose, phenomena at subwavelength scales are being studied to advance both fundamental knowledge and experimental capabilities. In this dissertation, concepts specific to near-field optics and experimental capabilities specific to near-field microscopy are used to investigate various aspects of the statistical properties of random electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of optically inhomogeneous media which emit or scatter radiation. The properties of such fields are being characterized within the frame of the coherence theory. While successful in describing the far-field properties of optical fields, the fundamental results of the conventional coherence theory disregard the contribution of short-range evanescent waves. Nonetheless, the specific features of random fields at subwavelength distances from interfaces of real media are influenced by the presence of evanescent waves because, in this case, both propagating and nonpropagating components contribute to the detectable properties of the radiation. In our studies, we have fully accounted for both contributions and, as a result, different surface and subsurface characteristics of inhomogeneous media could be explored. We investigated different properties of random optical near-fields which exhibit either Gaussian or non-Gaussian statistics. We have demonstrated that characteristics of optical radiation such as first- and second-order statistics of intensity and the spectral density in the vicinity of random media are all determined by both evanescent waves contribution and the statistical properties of the physical interface. For instance, we quantified the subtle differences which exist between the near- and far-field spectra of radiation and we brought the first experimental evidence that, contrary to the predictions of the conventional coherence theory, the values of coherence length in the near field depend on the distance from the interface and, moreover, they can be smaller than the wavelength of light. The results included in this dissertation demonstrate that the statistical properties of the electromagnetic fields which exist in the close proximity of inhomogeneous media can be used to extract structural information. They also suggest the possibility to adjust the coherence properties of the emitted radiation by modifying the statistical properties of the interfaces. Understanding the random interference phenomena in the near-field could also lead to new possibilities for surface and subsurface diagnostics of inhomogeneous media. In addition, controlling the statistical properties of radiation at subwavelength scales should be of paramount importance in the design of miniaturized optical sources, detectors and sensors.
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Date Issued: 2005
Identifier: CFE0000408, ucf:46410
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000408

Title: BEFORE AND AFTER 9/11: THE PORTRAYAL OF ARAB AMERICANS IN U.S. NEWSPAPERS.
Creator: Parker, Cherie, Sadri, Houman, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research project will determine whether or not Arab Americans are portrayed as members of an out-group, in-group, or victim following the events of 9/11. This study improves upon previous research by analyzing the content of newspaper articles in USA Today, The New York Times, and The Washington Post pertaining to Arab Americans. Since the majority of research indicated the mass media has a tendency to perpetuate a negative stereotype of minorities and of Arabs, it was expected that the...
Show moreThis research project will determine whether or not Arab Americans are portrayed as members of an out-group, in-group, or victim following the events of 9/11. This study improves upon previous research by analyzing the content of newspaper articles in USA Today, The New York Times, and The Washington Post pertaining to Arab Americans. Since the majority of research indicated the mass media has a tendency to perpetuate a negative stereotype of minorities and of Arabs, it was expected that the media would portray a negative stereotype of Arab Americans as well. The content analysis addressed the coverage of Arab Americans in the five years before and the five years after 9/11 in order to determine to what extent Arab Americans were depicted as members of an in-group, out-group, or victim following that date. A total of 1379 articles were analyzed placed into the social categories of in-group, out-group, or victim utilizing a clearly defined coding method. Findings showed that overall Arab Americans were depicted as members of an out-group more than they were depicted as members of an in-group or victim. Since the total number of articles dramatically increased following 9/11, the number of articles placing Arab Americans as members of an in-group, out-group, or victim increased accordingly. However, approximately three years after 9/11, the number of articles pertaining to Arab Americans began returning to pre-9/11 levels. While the number of articles placing Arab Americans as members of an in-group or victim increased immediately following 9/11, articles in both social categories steadily declined following 9/11. While the number of articles placing Arab Americans as members of an out-group decreased in the year immediately following 9/11, the number of articles placing Arab Americans as members of an out-group steadily increased following 9/11.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002041, ucf:47568
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002041

Title: THE IMPACT OF A MEDIA LITERACY EDUCATION PLAN ON THE FLORIDA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT TEST (FCAT) READING SCORES OF 9TH AND 10TH GRADE STUDENTS.
Creator: Sheehy, Colleen, Stephen Sivo, Jeffrey Kaplan, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This study investigated the impact of a media literacy education plan on the reading test scores of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) at an urban high school in Central Florida. A team of 9th and 10th grade teachers created a professional learning community and developed a treatment to enhance language arts instruction with various forms of media. This media literacy education plan included four lessons utilizing media such as television commercials, magazine photographs and...
Show moreThis study investigated the impact of a media literacy education plan on the reading test scores of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) at an urban high school in Central Florida. A team of 9th and 10th grade teachers created a professional learning community and developed a treatment to enhance language arts instruction with various forms of media. This media literacy education plan included four lessons utilizing media such as television commercials, magazine photographs and the Internet; the lessons were taught during the four months leading to the administration of the 2007 FCAT. Data were gathered from the 2006 and 2007 FCAT scores of students in a control and treatment group. Using these pre test and post test data, statistical analysis comprised two independent t-tests and one repeated measures ANOVA. The data revealed statistical significance at the 9th and 10th grade level, but did not show statistical significance at any particular reading level (Levels 1-5). Implications from this study included strong professional learning communities produce effective teachers and that student achievement increases when a media literacy education plan is included in English Language Arts instruction. Furthermore, this study illustrates the need to embrace modern media as viable classroom instructional tools. Recommendations were made for further research utilizing different materials, different forms of media, different student populations. This study also concluded that further qualitative research be conducted. Ultimately, this study makes a strong argument for the inclusion of media and media literacy education in the secondary English Language Arts classroom.
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Date Issued: 2007
Identifier: CFE0001897, ucf:47416
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001897

Title: A PROTOTYPE FOR NARRATIVE-BASED INTERACTIVITY IN THEME PARKS.
Creator: Kischuk, Kirsten, McDaniel, Rudy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The purpose of this thesis is to look at the potential for interactive devices to enhance the story of future theme park attractions. The most common interactive theme park rides are about game-based interaction, competition, and scoring, rather than about story, character, and plot. Research into cognitive science, interactivity, narrative, immersion, user interface, theming and other fields of study illuminated some potentially useful guidelines for creating compelling experiences for park...
Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to look at the potential for interactive devices to enhance the story of future theme park attractions. The most common interactive theme park rides are about game-based interaction, competition, and scoring, rather than about story, character, and plot. Research into cognitive science, interactivity, narrative, immersion, user interface, theming and other fields of study illuminated some potentially useful guidelines for creating compelling experiences for park guests. In order to test some of these ideas, an interactive device was constructed and tested with study subjects. Each study subject watched a video recording of an existing theme park ride while using the device, and then filled out a survey concerning their experience. The results revealed how subjects view character-driven interactive devices, how a device should be blended into a ride sequence, how subjects think interactivity and responsiveness should be structured in regards to themselves and the ride, and begins to hint at their motivations for using interactive devices.
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Date Issued: 2008
Identifier: CFE0002493, ucf:47689
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002493

Title: MULTIPLE SCATTERING OF LIGHT IN INHOMOGENEOUS MEDIA AND APPLICATIONS.
Creator: Mujat, Claudia, Dogariu, Aristide, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Light scattering-based techniques are being developed for non-invasive diagnostics of inhomogeneous media in various fields, such as medicine, biology, and material characterization. However, as most media of interest are highly scattering and have a complex structure, it is difficult to obtain a full analytical solution of the scattering problem without introducing approximations and assumptions about the properties of the system under consideration. Moreover, most of the previous studies...
Show moreLight scattering-based techniques are being developed for non-invasive diagnostics of inhomogeneous media in various fields, such as medicine, biology, and material characterization. However, as most media of interest are highly scattering and have a complex structure, it is difficult to obtain a full analytical solution of the scattering problem without introducing approximations and assumptions about the properties of the system under consideration. Moreover, most of the previous studies deal with idealized scattering situations, rarely encountered in practice. This dissertation provides new analytical, numerical, and experimental solutions to describe subtle effects introduced by the properties of the light sources, and by the boundaries, absorption and morphology of the investigated media. A novel Monte Carlo simulation was developed to describe the statistics of partially coherent beams after propagation through inhomogeneous media. The Monte Carlo approach also enabled us to study the influence of the refractive index contrast on the diffusive processes, to discern between different effects of absorption in multiple scattering, and to support experimental results on inhomogeneous media with complex morphology. A detailed description of chromatic effects in scattering was used to develop new models that explain the spectral dependence of the detected signal in applications such as imaging and diffuse reflectance measurements. The quantitative and non-invasive characterization of inhomogeneous media with complex structures, such as porous membranes, diffusive coatings, and incipient lesions in natural teeth was then demonstrated.
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Date Issued: 2004
Identifier: CFE0000048, ucf:46143
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000048

Title: PERCEPTION OF MENTAL ILLNESS BASED UPON ITS PORTRAYAL IN FILM.
Creator: Hanley, Erika, Donley, Amy, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Perceptions can be influenced by the media concerning different groups of people. As a result of the importance of the media in how individuals obtain information and formulate opinions, how different groups are presented whether negatively or positively is important. This research examines the portrayal of mental illness in films and the impact that such portrayals have on the perceptions of mental illness of the viewers. Mental illness representations can be found quite prevalently among...
Show morePerceptions can be influenced by the media concerning different groups of people. As a result of the importance of the media in how individuals obtain information and formulate opinions, how different groups are presented whether negatively or positively is important. This research examines the portrayal of mental illness in films and the impact that such portrayals have on the perceptions of mental illness of the viewers. Mental illness representations can be found quite prevalently among film and the way in which it is represented can be important as to how populations perceive those with mental disorders. This thesis looks to explore perceptions of mental illness and beliefs from those who have viewed films that portray characters with mental disorders. Through the use of an online survey, one hundred and ninety five participants provided data for this study. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that individuals who had seen more films portraying mental illness would have more knowledge and sympathy regarding mental illness compared those who had seen less films portraying mental illness. It was also hypothesized that social stereotypes surrounding mental disorders would be present in the knowledge that individuals had more so than factual data about mental disorders. Women were predicted to express more sympathy than men. A statistical analysis program was used to analyze the resulting data including the use of correlations and t-tests. Evidence indicated that the amount of films viewed portraying mental illness did not have an impact on knowledge or sympathy regarding mental illness. Perceptions of mental illness are still a relevant topic and the awareness of facts surrounding mental disorders should continue to be spread.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFH0004848, ucf:45441
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004848

media (23)	+ -
social media (22)	+ -
Media (13)	+ -
Digital Media (7)	+ -
Social Media (7)	+ -

digital media (7)	+ -
Twitter (6)	+ -
mass media (6)	+ -
digital rhetoric (5)	+ -
gender (5)	+ -
mass communication (5)	+ -
porous media (5)	+ -
race (5)	+ -
Combustion (4)	+ -
Facebook (4)	+ -
content analysis (4)	+ -
new media (4)	+ -
television (4)	+ -
Communication (3)	+ -
Islam (3)	+ -
Mass Media (3)	+ -
Politics (3)	+ -
advertising (3)	+ -
body image (3)	+ -
coherence (3)	+ -
communication (3)	+ -
design (3)	+ -
digital humanities (3)	+ -
framing theory (3)	+ -
identity (3)	+ -

ETD Collection (142)	+ -
Honors Collection (30)	+ -

University of Central Florida (171)	+ -
Kinnally, William (8)	+ -
Chang, Ni-bin (7)	+ -
Wright, Chrysalis (7)	+ -
Dogariu, Aristide (5)	+ -

Donley, Amy (5)	+ -
Orlovskaya, Nina (5)	+ -
Rubenking, Bridget (5)	+ -
Salter, Anastasia (5)	+ -
Sandoval, Jennifer (5)	+ -
Wanielista, Martin (5)	+ -
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Lyons, Amelia (4)	+ -
McDaniel, Rudy (4)	+ -
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Sadmani, A H M Anwar (4)	+ -
Vasu Sumathi, Subith (4)	+ -
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